Exmouth were knocked off the top of the table by Exeter, who defeated them by 132 runs in the first-against-second tussle on the Maer Ground, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.

Exeter now top the table by 12 points from Exeter and Sidmouth, who share third spot.

Alex Barrow (96) and Ben Green (97) got Exeter off to 152-run start before David Lye snaffled Green caught and bowled.

Green has made 327 league runs already this season and is averaging 109.

Barrow, who survived a confident shout early on for lbw, was second out on 251 when Lye had him stumped by Sandy Allen.

The former Somerset and England U19 batsman only hit 25 in boundaries, showing yet again how quick he is running between the wickets.

Rob Holman was Barrow’s partner in a stand of 99. He was third man out for 73 off 62 balls. Exmouth were all out in reply for 192, no one making more than Dan Pyle, who went in at 45 for four and stroked 57 off 72 balls. Pyle’s stand of 56 with Miles Lenygon, the former Exeter captain who made 21 against his old team was as good as it got for Exmouth.

Opener Allen made 37 before he was the second of three wickets for Ethan Bamber. Skipper Richard Baggs resisted for 29 not out in 69 minutes at the end.

The middle-order wickets were shared round, leaving the returning Bamber (3-21) and Green (3-46) to knock over the stragglers.

Losing captain Baggs had no complaints about losing to a superior side, but felt his team didn’t always do themselves justice.

“We were totally outplayed by a better team, but I was disappointed by how we bowled,” said Baggs.

“We bowled far too many bad balls and their seamers bowled much better than ours.

“I will say a couple of massive decisions went against us, which were game changers, but that is the way it goes.”

Exmouth are away to defending champions Bovey Tracey this Saturday.